View 2 Images John Swinney with Donald Trump in the Oval Office (Image: Chris Cieri / Scottish Government)John Swinney enjoyed business class flights when he rushed to the USA to hold talks with Donald Trump about whisky tariffs. He has been accused of breaching Scottish Government travel policies due to choosing the most expensive way to head stateside. John Swinney is happy to lead from the front when it comes to his government frequently breaking the rules." Tariffs are costing the sector £4 million a week, the Scotch Whisky Association said. The United States is the largest and most valuable market for Scotch whisky, with exports worth nearly £1 billion in 2024, highlighting how crucial the US market is to the Scotch whisky industry."

Source: Express January 11, 2026 10:44 UTC